Interludes

Chapter 1: Scarlet

Author's Note: A long-suffering brain child after I'd finished the Lunar Chronicles. As we wait for Winter to arrive in a couple of months, here are a few "interludes" between characters on the Rampion.

Disclaimer: All characters and previous events belong to Marissa Meyer and The Lunar Chronicles

The passageways of the Rampion were quiet at night. Well, if you could consider the hallways of a roaring, rumbling spaceship 'quiet.' And if you could call space after 23:00 'night.'

Whatever. There were no boots clacking on metal paneling, no cutlery rustling in the galley, and no chatter from Iko. The air out of the vents was smooth and slow, as if the computer herself was drawing deep, sleepy breaths. Scarlet lay on top of her bunk, covers still pinned beneath her. Her red curls was fanned out behind her head as she stared up at the ceiling.

They were currently speeding the opposite direction around Earth, in an attempt to meet up with an orbiting satellite. They were supposed to liberate some sort of Lunar prisoner, but the whole thing sounded a little too easy. Not that she was entirely sure she wanted another Lunar on board anyway. The girl seemed harmless enough. She had been stranded in a satellite for seven years, the least they could do was rescue her. Either way, they were scheduled to arrive at the satellite's location by the morning.

She let the still air settle around her as she tried to lull herself into a fitful sleep. The fatigue from the events in Paris had subsided after a few days and the grief had settled into her bones like a new scar. They'd been aboard the Rampion for almost a week now, and she had become too wired with nerves to sleep well. The future was a complete unknown. Scarlet missed the quiet stillness of her farm. She missed the familiarity of the creaky floorboards in her cottage, and the damp mist that hugged the grass in the mornings. In space, every moment outside the windows was the same; inky black infinity stretching in every direction. It was lonely. When she thought about the vastness of the universe outside the ship, she felt a shudder down her spine. The anxiety crushed down on her lungs as if she'd been jettisoned out the hatch. She felt more claustrophobic in space than she would have trapped in her own closet.

Her red hoodie was hanging from a hook on the other side of the room. The zipper tapped repeatedly against a wall panel with the ship's movements. The sound cut through her thoughts like nails on a chalkboard. With a loud sigh, she pulled herself from her bunk, threw the hoodie around her shoulders, then dropped herself back down on the thin pallet mattress. Her hair curled comfortingly around her neck as she pulled her hood over her head.

She tried to think of more positive things. She was far more grateful for the crew and her new friends than she let on. It felt nice to be surrounded by people her own age, people she felt she had more in common with than anyone back on Earth. The ship was large enough that they weren't climbing over each other every second of the day, but she still longed for moments alone. Mostly moments alone with Wolf. Scarlet drew a deep breath and let out a pathetic-sounding sigh. Wolf…

His quarters were across the passageway. Night after night, she held her own breath, in hopes that she could hear his. The low, deep rumble of his breaths comforted her. If she thought hard enough, she could still remember his warm chest against her back from the train. Hands clasped tightly around her waist, grasping her as though she would disappear if he let go.

She groaned and pulled the ties on her hood so tightly, she was encased in darkness for a moment. In her little cocoon, it was quiet. The deafening roar of the engines were muffled by the well-worn cotton surrounding her head.

Her thoughts wandered to the next morning once again. If things went well and if they somehow succeeded and eradicated this girl from her prison, the mission would shift. Timelines would condense, urgency would resume and it's possible things could change, drastically, very quickly.

If she wanted quiet time with Wolf, there wouldn't be a better moment. Possibly ever.

The thought constricted her chest even more and she pulled open her hood to take a deep, cool breath of air. Before she lost her nerve, she shoved herself out of bed. As she lifted her foot to take a step, the door to her room slid open with a hiss. Scarlet squinted at the ceiling, wondering if Iko was tampering with the controls. She felt a gust of warm air out of the vents and balled her fists.

"Iko…"

"He's not asleep," a small voice hummed from the com pad. "He's as restless as you. And everyone else is asleep."

"Do you have any idea how weird this is?" Scarlet hissed, feet still locked to the floor by her bed.

The lights flickered indignantly. "Do you know how weird it is to have little parasites walking around your insides?"

Scarlet cringed. "Fine. I'll go. Can you just...not watch?"

"Not a problem," Iko squeaked, before going silent.

Scarlet grimaced at the thought as she took one last, deep breath before slipping through the open door and into the deserted passageway. She tip-toed to Wolf's door and paused. Now what? Knock, open, call out?

Instead she pressed a palm flat to the metal panel that made up the door. It was cool against her nervous, sweaty palm. It vibrated slightly with the engines; a thin hum against her skin. She pressed herself closer, as though she could attempt to see through the steel some how. Was he stretched out on the bunk, curled in a corner, or pacing back and forth? His body was hardly ever still; he was always moving, bouncing, ready for the attack.

She thought for a moment about how connected they had been a few days before on their hurried trip to Paris. Focused on stealth and speed. Hands clasped, guards up, attached at the hip, acting as a unit, breaking down personal barriers all the while… She realized how different life had become in such a short time. Earlier in the day, Wolf had essentially proclaimed his love for her and yet she couldn't even fit in alone time with him. Had she ruined things already?

The tingle of desperation tugged at the back of her throat and she hurriedly lifted her other hand to knock. Before her knuckles could rap against the brushed metal, the door slid open and a warm arm encircled her waist to pull her inside. The door closed behind her.

She was thrown against Wolf's chest instantly, and engulfed in his arms. He smelled clean and the damp, comforting scent of the outdoors was clinging to his skin. He was warm - so, so warm. His hands moved on her body, across her back, to her shoulders, as though he was testing her for injury. The moved up her neck, until they rested on either side of her face. His eyes were wide and wild as they met hers. He didn't hesitate before kissing her, soft and slow.

Scarlet was stunned, but the relief was instant.

The kiss didn't linger, nor did she feel dominated by his hulking frame, but it was enough to confirm that things were still okay. Hey may have waited for her to make the first move, but he was prepared for it.

"You came," he sighed against her skin before pressing his nose to her temple.

"Barely," she replied, leaning into his touch.

"I was too scared to come to your room." He pulled back and met her eye. "I'm glad you were brave enough. Although, I can't say I'm surprised."

Scarlet couldn't help but smile. "You rolled out quite the welcome wagon."

Wolf looked down at his bare feet, smile pulling at his lips. "Was it too much?"

She lifted herself on her toes to press another kiss to his lips. His arm tightened around her waist and he bent over her slightly as he kissed her back. His eagerness made her heart leap in her chest. Normally, her quiet, restrained companion was so focused on control, he hardly ever let go. To have him in her arms now, completely at her will, excited her more than she could contain.

He pulled away first, taking a deep, calming breath through his nose. "Scarlet," he breathed, drawing his nose down her cheek bone. "Each time we're apart I forget."

"Forget what?"

He smile. "How you affect me. It's an overwhelming feeling."

She tried to pull away, afraid she was pushing him too far, but he held her steady. "It's not a bad feeling." Wolf brushed a strand of hair away from her cheek. "I'm sorry, it's just that we haven't had time alone after…" His voice faded into the dark, pained and quiet.

"I know."

At the turn in the conversation, Wolf released Scarlet from his embrace. He took her hands in his. "I don't want you to think that I don't want this."

The thought had crossed her mind. After what had done to her, after what she saw in his eyes. Even if he'd never really been truly gone from her, the threat had been real. It had of course crossed her mind that their relationship would never be able to progress normally. Could they ever be a real couple? She hadn't yet considered what that meant.

At her silence, Wolf bravely continued. "I do want this." He lifted her hand and splayed it across his chest, over his heart. The thin fabric of his shirt was soft against the pads of her fingers and his skin almost hot to the touch.

She swallowed before asking, "Want what, exactly, Wolf?"

He was silent for the first time in the conversation, eyes wide as thoughts flashed before them. He probably hadn't thought far enough to put it into words. His lips pursed to one side of his face and he took both hands in his. Gently, he lead her towards the bunk and motioned for her to sit. As she sunk down on the mattress, he knelt down before her. The behavior was unsurprisingly lupine. The lesser wolf below his alpha, which apparently she was now. Her cheeks flushed at the thought.

"I don't know how this works, Scarlet. It was never an option for us." He swallowed bitterly, thinking about his past. "I never thought I would be able to feel this way, let alone be someone to anyone. It's not something I take lightly."

She smiled at him and traced her fingers down his face. "I know."

The corner of his mouth twitched as he tried to hide a smile. "I may not have experienced it before, but I understand the concept, and I want that for us. I want...companionship."

Her heart was racing. Companionship. With him. With Wolf. A man she'd known for a week. What scared her most was that she could hardly imagine a life without him now.

"And…" he continued.

Scarlet's eyebrows rose. She wondered if he'd ever been this 'talkative' since she's known him.

"More than that."

She gulped. "More?"

He raised his eyebrows deploring, begging her to make the connection. There was a tinge of red, high on his cheeks.

"Oh," was all she could think to say. The brightness in his eyes was distracting her from her own embarrassment. More. Physical intimacy. Not a new concept, to be sure, but she had never spoken out loud about it. Let alone to a...man.

"You are beautiful," he said, and suddenly he smiled. The grin was wide enough that she could see the pointed ends of his canines. "I haven't actually told you that since I've known you."

She laughed, bashfully and shook her head. Her hair dropped around her face as she looked down at her knees. The curtain of auburn curls gave her a brief moment of solitude.

He placed the palms of his hands on her bent knees, then slid them up her thighs. The movement wasn't intended to be overly-sensual, but she felt every nerve in her body roar in flames. "I do...desire you, Scarlet."

Her head snapped up. Desire. The words were archaic, and predatory, depending on the context, but the flames she felt on her skin intensified even more. She was terrified - and excited. Of course she thought about him that way too. In a way, she'd objectified him since the moment they met. He was incredibly handsome and exotic. His skin was like caramel and just as warm. His hair was soft and almost always a wreck. It had distracted her since she'd first seen him up close. He was tall and strong, and watching him move had never been unpleasant. Not to mention all of the things he'd done for her. Fight for her, protect her, rescue her. She realized now how completely gone she was.

One week. She told herself. Seven days.

"You haven't said anything," Wolf spoke, voice soft. He lifted her chin, gently. "Have I been too forward?"

She shook her head, "No. That's not it at all."

"What is it?"

She thought for a second before speaking. "It's weird isn't it, how still things are now?"

His eyebrow quirked. He wasn't following.

"A few days ago we were running through the woods to catch a train to Paris. We were brawling people. I was imprisoned!"

Wolf's face contorted in pain. "Scarlet-"

She touched his face. "I'm not trying to bring this up again. What I mean is...we're sitting here now, safe, in a spaceship, spinning through space. You and I have time, we have space. We can just be. It feels strange."

His head was cocked, studying her. "I agree. It's strange to be removed from everything else back on Earth. On Luna even."

Scarlet reached for his hands and squeezed them. "I feel like we're pressed for time, and yet we have so much of it. I don't know what to do right now between you and I. I don't know what we can promise ourselves for the future. I'm...afraid, I guess."

He squeezed back. "I understand."

She looked behind her, at the bunk. "Maybe, if we just lay here tonight. Spend time together. We can figure out the rest as we go."

Wolf waited a beat and she leaned close so their noses were almost touching. "I want all the same things, Wolf. I think I always have."

His smile was small, but his eyes shone bright as he released her hands and stood from the floor. Scarlet lifted her legs onto the mattress and slid towards the wall so he had room. He lay down beside her and tugged at her waist so they were closer. Their kneecaps bumped together awkwardly.

"I can see why this sounded like a good idea," Wolf said, eyes practically shining through the darkness of the room.

The closeness of his body was overwhelming and the hesitancy that had pulled her away moments ago disappeared completely. She lifted a hand and slid it around his neck so her fingers were twisted in the soft tufts of his hair. He didn't restrain her when she wriggled even closer so she could press her lips to his. His short breaths beat against her cheek as she kissed him.

"Scarlet," he groaned when she pulled away. "This is not just laying together."

"I know." Restraint had never been her strongest personality trait. She pressed her lips to his cheek and his jaw. "But you're just…"

He hummed a small laugh, and she thought it was possibly the most wonderful thing she had ever heard.

"I desire you too," she said, in hopes that he would understand why she was suddenly overcome by lust.

Wolf pulled back enough to meet her eyes. "Scarlet," he said, almost scolding her. "Not here, not tonight."

She shook her head and moved closer again. "No, I know. But we can be close in other ways. What's that saying?" She had moved to kissing his neck, and suddenly all tension had erased from his body.

"Saying?" his voice was thin and breathy. Distracted.

"It's not about the destination, it's the journey."

He laughed again, this time loudly and with his full body. "I think it's the other way around."

Scarlet snorted in laughter against his skin. "Oh. We'll that's how I look at it."

"What exactly are you trying to say?"

She lifted herself on her elbow so she was above him. He had both hands on her back. They moved up and down, caressing her gently. She broke out in gooseflesh. He smiled up at her.

What was she saying? That making out was as good as making love? She was pretty sure that wasn't true. "I'm saying that we're still getting to know each other, and that means more things than just talking."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Look, being close to you, in any way is...more than I ever imagined. I'm not in any rush to jump into things and I'm not in any rush to end them, either." She grimaced. "Stars, what am I even trying to say?"

"Let me try," he said, rolling them over so she was beneath him. She gasped.

Wolf leaned down and pressed his lips to the hollow behind her ear. A wave rippled down her spine and she forced herself to take a deep breath. "I meant what I said earlier, you know." His voice was a rumble against the shell of her ear. For a moment, she thought she had never been strung so tightly in her life.

Earlier, earlier...Scarlet could hardly remember ten minutes ago.

"About loving you."

She froze.

"I do," he said, voice sure and soft. "I love you, Scarlet." He kissed her cheek, then the corner of her lips. Her resolve was fading… "Some day I want to make love to you."

At that moment, she was sure her body would melt and disappear into the mattress.

"But not here, not now. Not until after all of this is over and I don't have to worry about losing you. After...when we're safe."

She realized there were tears in her eyes. Enough to run down her temples and into her hair. Emotion swelled in her chest and she could hardly breathe. "Wolf, I…"

He kissed her. "Don't say anything now," he hummed over her lips.

She pressed her lips together to illustrate that she wouldn't.

When he kissed her again, she felt it all the way down to her toes. She kissed him back with everything she could to show him how she felt. When he deepened the kiss, she didn't pull away.

When a hand slid under her tank top, to rest against the side of her rib cage, she didn't push him away.

She couldn't.

She wouldn't.

Around them, the air vents let out a slow gust of air. A sigh.

Hours later, Scarlet lay with her back pressed to Wolf's bare chest. The small hairs down the center of his chest tickled her skin where her tank top swooped below her shoulder blades. She had been asleep earlier, but she wasn't now. The excitement from the past few hours had woken her up, as the Winter Festival used to when she was small. She adjusted her head on her pillow so she could see the broad curve of Wolf's shoulder in the corner of her eye.

Warm brown was marked with streaks of shiny, pink skin. Scars. They littered his entire body. Well, as much as she's seen, anyway. The thought made her stomach flip and her skin burn. She closed her eyes and pictured the tip of her finger as it drew a line from scar to scar across his chest. Wolf's eyes had fluttered closed, mouth parted as he tried to remain still beneath her. Her hoodie still lay, forgotten on the floor, but that was the only article of clothing she'd removed. Perhaps she had lost her bravery when she'd yanked Wolf's shirt over his head.

The surprised and immensely pleased look on his face was worth the embarrassment.

She bit down on her bottom lip as she tried to hide a smile.

The skin around her neck burned slightly from the rough stubble on his chin, but she welcomed the small bite of pain. The more she had gotten to know Wolf over the course of the past few days, the more she knew that he functioned heavily on instincts. If it was true that he had never been with a woman before, than his instincts were very...on point.

It was the small things, really. The way he managed to slip at least one finger under the hem of her shirt, no matter what his lips may have been doing. The feather-light pressure of his mouth as the traced the ridge of her clavicle from one shoulder to the other. The slow, languid speed of his kisses.

Scarlet realized she was lonely again, even as his skin was pressed to her own.

As if on cue, he stirred and nuzzled his face deeper into the base of her skull.

She felt a pleased hum against her skin. "You're flushed," Wolf murmured into the back of her neck.

She shivered pleasantly at the sound of his voice.

"Thinking about...earlier."

He tugged on her hip with one of his hands, urging her to roll over to face him. She lamented the thought of moving positions until she saw the look on his face.

Calm.

Utter and complete calm.

It was the most serene she'd ever seen him. She realized now that he had remained completely still for, what seemed like, hours. They studied the details of each other's faces for a moment. Eventually wolf moved his hand so he could trace her lips with the tips of his fingers.

"I love you too," she blurted out against his skin.

His hand froze.

Scarlet felt her cheeks turn pink and she shook her head. "I'm sorry, that was...sudden. I just-"

Wolf's hand slid around the back of her neck so he could pull her face towards hers. "Please don't apologize for that," he pleaded, before kissing her.

The kiss was slow, as all of his were. This behaviour was no different than the way he greeted any of the new things she'd shown him. As though he was savoring every moment. His fingers pressed into her skull with a new sense of urgency that she hadn't felt before.

"I didn't think you would…" he said, when he pulled back. "I didn't expect you to."

"I couldn't stop thinking about it. About everything."

His gem-like eyes roamed her face, bouncing from feature to feature.

"If we're really going to try and overthrow Levana, then I have absolutely no idea what the future holds. So much of me wants to steal you away and take you back to the farm so we could live normal lives."

Wolf smiled at the idea, eyes crinkling.

"But we can't do that to Cinder, and not to Grandmere either."

He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I know."

"Things will change tomorrow, maybe forever. I need you to know how I feel now. If we get separated, I don't want to lose the chance to tell you, and I don't want that to be the first time you hear it."

"Scarlet…" Fear clouded his features.

She pressed a hand to his chest. "You know it's true."

His eyes softened. "I do."

"I want to know that I love you for everything you did to help me. I chose to believe that was you, the real you."

"All of it was real. Always." His voice was firm and true.

Scarlet felt her throat tighten and her eyes blurred with tears. She had been able to deal with the emotion of her grandmother over the past few days, but only now was she really accepting the weight of her feelings for Wolf.

"Don't cry," he said, voice strained. "That just makes it sound like you're saying goodbye."

"You're right." She let him drag the tears from her face with his thumb. "We don't even know if all of this is going to work."

"Let's just sleep now," Wolf said wisely, fanning her hair out behind her head as he removed his hand. He lowered his arm and let it hang loose over her hip. "We can't predict what's going to happen."

Scarlet closed her eyes as Wolf traced patterns at the base of her spine. "Think of the farm," he whispered into her hair. "We'll be there again soon."

She smiled to herself and reached for his other hand. She clutched it to her chest and felt herself drift off to sleep, curled around her Wolf.